- access
- bad influence
- behind-the-scenes operator
- big wheel
- calculator
- coconspirator
- conniver
- conspirator
- conspirer
- counterplotter
- court
- eminence grise
- exploiter
- finagler
- five-percenter
- fixer
- four-percenter
- friend at court
- gamesman
- good influence
- gray eminence
- heavyweight
- hidden hand
- influence
- influence peddler
- influencer
- ingroup
- intrigant
- intriguer
- key
- kingmaker
- lobby
- lobbyist
- logroller
- lords of creation
- Machiavellian
- machinator
- maneuverer
- manipulator
- man of influence
- open sesame
- operator
- opportunist
- plotter
- pork-barrel politician
- power broker
- powers that be
- pressure group
- Rasputin
- schemer
- sinister influence
- special-interest group
- special interests
- strategist
- Svengali
- tactician
- the Establishment
- very important person
- VIP
- wheeler-dealer
- wire puller
- wire-puller